Japan House London

We are excited to present our upcoming exhibition - 'Looks Delicious! Exploring Japan’s food replica culture'. Join us from 2 October on a mouth-watering journey through the uniquely Japanese phenomenon of 'shokuhin sampuru' – the unexpectedly realistic food replicas displayed in front of restaurants across Japan.  Visitors will enjoy an opportunity, rare outside Japan, to see these skilfully-created models, and get close to their history, materials, processes and the future potential of the craft. Once guests have feasted their eyes on replica dishes commissioned for the exhibition - one representing each of Japan's 47 prefectures - they can try their hand at creating a bento box in the exhibition's interactive section, or go on to join one of our rich programme of events. 'Looks Delicious!' runs from 2 October 2024 to 16 February 2025. Entry is free and booking opens soon. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4dQm3Cy

HYBRID | The Future of Wajima Nuri: Survival and Recovery Wajima, on the Noto Peninsula, has long been a centre of urushi (lacquer) production. Its lacquerware, known as Wajima nuri is nationally recognized as an important intangible cultural property. Distinguished by its durable undercoating and its complex production process, Wajima nuri typically undergoes over one hundred intricate stages involving a specialized division of labour before completion. However, the earthquake which struck the region on 1 January 2024 and the more recent severe flooding, has devastated the community and its craftspeople, casting uncertainty over the future of the industry. This event, held as part of Asian Art in London, delves into the current state of Wajima’s lacquer industry and the significant challenges it now faces. Yamada Masami, Curator for Japan at the Victoria and Albert Museum, provides a detailed overview of the difficulties confronting Wajima,…

If you have been lucky enough to visit Japan, you are bound to have seen appetizing bento boxes like these while travelling by train. 'Eki-uri bentō' (literally 'lunchboxes sold at stations'), more commonly known as 'eki-ben,' are boxed meals sold at railway stations and platforms across Japan. The first 'eki-ben' are thought to have been sold in 1885. As domestic travel boomed in the 1950s and 1960s, these 'eki-ben' became a popular and essential part of the travel experience, satisfying the appetites of travellers on their journeys. Read more about 'eki-ben' in our article by Anna Udagawa, co-author of Japan by Rail, here: https://bit.ly/3YiQCdT Visit Japan House London to see a range of 'eki-ben' replica displays. - Eki-ben replicas from along the Tōkaidō Shinkansen route were acquired with support from Central Japan Railway Company.

We were delighted to welcome Alejandro from New College Worcester to Japan House London this summer for his first external work experience. Alejandro brought a great deal to Japan House London, but we were especially grateful for the opportunity to work with a visually impaired team member for the first time. Alejandro's thoughts and suggestions have prompted us to reflect on where we can make improvements in accessibility, based on his direct experience. And his discussion with our Director of Programming will help guide the development of audio descriptions for future exhibitions. As a Volunteer Visitor Engagement Assistant, Alejandro was a valuable addition to our Visitor Experience Team. His enthusiasm and multilingual abilities, including Japanese, enriched the experience for many of our visitors. Find out more about Alejandro's experience here: https://lnkd.in/dqZJyapJ

Watch Iwasaki Tsuyoshi, president of the renowned food replica company Iwasaki Co., Ltd. in Tokyo, as he shares insights into the significance of the honeycomb replica featured in the 'Looks Delicious!' exhibition. While honey is a widely accessible food source, we often overlook the remarkable effort behind it— a bee produces only enough honey in its lifetime to fill less than a teaspoon! Food replicas serve not just as enticing displays outside storefronts but also play a vital role in nutritional and medical education. Discover more at 'Looks Delicious!' and book your free ticket: https://bit.ly/4dQm3Cy